Safety device for car-couplings



No. 62l,|44. Patented Mar. l4, I899.

- J. D. ROCHE.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLINGS.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1898.)

(N o M o d e I.)

WITNESSES lNVENTOH 53% W, WW4

A TTOHNE Y6 NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN DANIEL ROCHE, OF UNION, HUDSON COUNTY, NEIV JERSEY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR CAR-COUPLINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,144, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed December 8, 1898. $erial N0- 698,600. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN DANIEL ROCHE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Union, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part thereof, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved safety device for car-couplers of the twin-jaw variety; and the object thereof is to provide an efficient means for preventing vertical disengagement of two interlocked couplers in the event of one of them being accidentally disengaged from the car by breakage of the drawhead or other cause.

By the use of this invention all danger of accident to cars in the rear of the broken or disengaged coupler is obviated, because its interlocked coupler supports it and prevents it from falling beneath the cars.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view showing two interlocked couplers having my improved device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the said couplers; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the couplers, illustrating the relative arrangement of my improved device.

In the practice of my invention I provide, primarily, an arched upright A, comprising an upper hinged section a and vertical posts a, the said posts being formed integrally with a base-plate a which is secured to one side of the coupler, upon the upper surface thereof, preferably over the pin to which the jaw 1 of the coupler is pivoted, an opening or being formed therein to fit around the head of said pin, the base being further secured by means of a bolt a which passes therethrough and into the body of the coupler-head. The two sections of the arch are maintained in vertical alinement with each other by means of a plate-spring B, and the under surface of the upper portion of the arch is supplied with a beveled edge for engagement with a horizontally-projected arm 0, which is hinged to an upright D, secured to the opposite coupling, one upright and one arm being supplied for each coupling and located opposite to each other upon a transverse line. The arm 0 is provided with a series of grooves or notches c for engagement with the beveled edge of the upper portion of the arch A to suspend the coupling, as will be hereinafter described. The arm Onormally rests upon a shoulder at of the upright D, whereby the said arm is projected ready for use; but when it is desired to throw the same out of use it will be swung back against the car-body, as illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 2 of the drawlngs.

The upper section a of the arch A is hinged to the uprights a by means of pins a and vertical alinement between the said parts, whereby the hinged portion is prevented from moving in a forward direction, is maintained by means of the shoulders, as at a.

As a means for swinging the arched portion in a rearward direction to carry the same out of engagement with the projected arm 0, a rod E is pivoted to the upper portion thereof. This said rod is provided upon its free end with an eye 6, which engages a hook e, secured to the base 0L2 of the arched hanger A. This inoperative position of the arch is clearly illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the object of swinging it back in this position is to admit of uncoupling the cars for the purpose of carrying one of them up a steep slope without danger of having the parts of the safety device contact with each other.

In the operation and use of the invention the several parts of the safety device are set as illustrated by full lines of the drawings, and owing to their relative positions it is obvious that ordinary independent vertical movement of the couplers is not interfered with 5 but should either coupler become accidentally disengaged from its car the same will drop until the arch A engages the arm 0 of the opposite coupler, and the disengaged coupler will thus be suspended from the said arm sign as herein shown and described, as it is obvious that under the scope of my invention I am entitled to structural variations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a means for preventing vertical disengagement of car-couplers, the combination of an arched hanger and a projected arm, the said arm being projected through the arch, whereby the coupler may be suspended therefrom by means of the arch, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a car-coupler of the twin-jaw class, of an arch and a projected arm, the said parts being secured to the upper surface of the coupler, substantially as shown and described.

3. As a safety device for car-couplers, the combination of an arched hanger and a projected arm, the hanger comprising two uprights, and a swinging arched portion having a beveled under surface, and the arm being supplied with a series of notches for engage= ment with the said beveled surface, both parts being secured to the upper surface of the couplers, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a safety device for car-couplers, the combination of a swinging arched portion secured to uprights projected from the upper surface of the coupler-head, the arched portion being maintained in vertical alinement with the uprights by means of a plate-spring, and means for swinging and locking the arched portion out of vertical alinement, with a projected swinging arm located beneath the arched portion, and secured to an upright of the opposite coupler, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 7th day of Decem ber, 1898. j

JOHN DANIEL ROCHE. \Vitnesses:

M. G. MAoLEAN, D W. HAGNER. 

